Saphenous Veins: Anatomy, Location, and Function

The saphenous vein is a superficial vein of the leg. It is the longest vein in the body, running from the ankle to the groin. The saphenous vein has two branches: the great saphenous vein and the small saphenous vein. The great saphenous vein runs along the medial side of the leg, while the small saphenous vein runs along the lateral side of the leg. The saphenous veins are responsible for draining blood from the superficial tissues of the leg back to the heart.